Watch

ABSTRACT

A watch ( 1 ) allows the identification and the division of three time periods over a day and comprises a dial ( 2 ); a hand member ( 3 ) having a movable pointing end ( 15 ); and a path ( 12 ), with respect to wich said movable pointing end ( 15 ) is moved, which is provided with an initial position ( 13; 13   a ) and a final position ( 13; 13   b ), wherein the run time of said path ( 12 ), from the initial position ( 13; 13   a ) to the final position ( 13; 13   b ), of said movable pointing end ( 15 ) is of eight hours, said watch ( 1 ) comprising identification means ( 18, 19; 20, 21, 22 ) of an 8-hour period corresponding to said path ( 12 ), capable of displaying three different time states (WT, FT, NT).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a watch that, in its most general form,is of the type comprising a dial; at least one hand member having amovable pointing end; and at least a path, with respect to which saidmovable pointing end is moved, which is provided with an initialposition and a final position.

2. Description of the Related Art

Several types of watch are known to the art, usually providing aninformation referring to time, expressed in an analogical or in adigital way.

In both cases, the watch structure is such that said information isprovided either with a numerical progression, as e.g., in the normaldigital watches having a digit display, or divided into two timeintervals, each having a 12-hours length.

Moreover, examples of hand watches do exist wherein the hour handperforms a 24-hours length revolution onto a single dial, reporting thetraditional 24-hours division inside two semicircles of 12 hours each.

This type of watch, although providing an accurate information, imposesto the users a division of time that does not coincide with the pace anduses of the daily life, which, although based on the day/nightpartition, is differently organized.

In fact, it is apparent that, in the traditional hand watches, thedivision of the possibly graduated path on said dial adopts as initialand final positions the position of midday and midnight, i.e., theclimax of the day and the climax of the night.

It is well known that such positions respectively correspond to, more orless, the core of an individual's working life, imagining a normalworking commitment which starts from 8.00 a.m. and lasts until 4.00p.m., and to the middle of the night, at least from an astronomicalstandpoint.

In fact, in an age where the daily life was ruled by the light—dark,i.e., Sun—Moon succession, meant as the motion of a star onto thecelestial vault, said traditional positions had a meaning related to thepace and uses typical of that age.

Hence, it was normal and natural for said astronomical motion, having anapproximate length of 12 hours, without taking into account the seasonalvariation, to be adopted to represent the time path of an entire day.

In the modern age, particularly with the artificial electric lighting,such a representation does not have a direct match anymore, and mightgive to the user impressions about his/her own daily life that aresubstantially contradictory and misleading.

Therefore, this division does not tally with the intermissions to whichthe individual activity of any user that wears, or anyhow benefits fromthe time information, is subjected.

Moreover, the division into intervals, even if due to specificstructural peculiarities of the watch, does not suffice to divide intime the various activities of an individual user, that generallyspeaking can be divided into three time periods: working time period,8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.; free time period, 4.00 p.m. to midnight; andrest or sleeping period, midnight to 8.00 a.m.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

On this ground, EP 0,652,496 A discloses a watch which has a 12-hourdial comprising means for displaying time as measured in the “Ayurveda”philosophy. According to the latter, the 24-hour day is subdivided intosix sub-periods of four hours each, three sub-periods for the daytimeand three identical sub-periods for the nighttime.

Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 1,500,701 discloses a watch having a 12-hourdial, wherein each hour of an 8-hour working period is subdivided intotenths, in order to simplify counting of the working hours per formed byemployees.

However, none of the above known-art watches fully achieves the aim ofregulating life according to modern rhythms, as in these watches time isalways represented according to a conventional 12-hour scale.

The technical problem underlying the present invention is that ofproviding a watch allowing to overcome the drawbacks mentioned withreference to the known art.

Such problem is solved by a watch as above described, comprising asingle path, with respect to which said movable pointing end is moved,which is provided with an initial position and a final position matchingone with the other, wherein the run time of said path from the initialposition to the final position, of said movable pointing end, is ofeight hours, and wherein the watch further comprises identificationmeans of an 8-hour period corresponding to said path which displaysthree different temporal conditions.

Within the scope of the same inventive concept, said problem is likewisesolved by a watch comprising, on said dial, a single path provided withan initial and a final position separated one from the other, whereinthe run time of said path from the initial position to the finalposition of said movable pointing end is of eight hours, said watchcomprising springing back means to make said pointing hand spring backin the initial position once the final position has been reached,wherein said watch further comprises identification means of an 8-hourperiod corresponding to said path which displays three differenttemporal conditions.

The main advantage of the watch, according to one of the definitions ofthe present invention, lies in allowing a representation of the passingof time which is closer to the pace and uses of the daily life.

A remarkable advantage of psychophysical nature ensues therefrom,wherein the structure of said watch provides the user with aninformation giving a feeling of completeness and of fullness of time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be disclosed hereinafter according to fourembodiments thereof, given by way of example and not for limitativepurposes with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a watch according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a watch according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a watch according to a third embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a watch according to a fourth embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram representation of a detail of the watch ofFIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures, four watches are represented, inparticular of the wrist-watch type, with a detailed view of the dialthereof. Each watch is an embodiment of the invention.

Of course, the same inventive concept can anyhow be applied to otherwatch typologies: clock, table clock, vest-pocket watch and so on.

In the following description, similar components or anyhow performing asimilar function are indicated with the same numeral reference for easeof interpretation.

With reference to FIG. 1, a wrist-watch of the chronograph type isglobally indicated with 1 and comprises a dial 2; a first hand member 3,pivoted to the centre of said dial 2 and meant to provide theinformation on the current hour; a second hand member 4, pivoted to thecentre of said dial 2 and meant to provide the information on thecurrent minute.

The dial 2 further comprises a first, a second and a third subdial, 5,6, 7 provided with respective third, fourth, fifth hand member 8, 9, 10to provide information on the current time, considered with thetraditional division in 12/24 hours, the current second and for thepossible performance of chronometrical functions.

Said dial 2 further comprises a calendar 11 of the traditional type, anda graduated circumferential path 12 having a plurality of indicatormembers 13 subdividing it into a corresponding number of sections 14.

The indicator members 13 represent different positions on said path 12and on the dial 2. In particular, an indicator member 13 in a medianposition represents the initial position of said path 12 and, the path12 being circumferential, also the final position thereof.

Each hand member, and particularly the first hand member 3, comprises apointing end 15 that is movable with respect to said graduatedcircumferential path 12.

In the watch 1 according to the present invention, the run time of saidpointing end 15 with respect to the path 12 from the initial position tothe final position, i.e., for a whole revolution of the dial 2, is ofeight hours.

Therefore, said path 12 comprises eight indicator members 13 and eightsections 14 identified by the former.

With reference to FIG. 2, a wrist-watch of the normal type is globallyindicated with 1 and comprises a dial 2; a first hand member 3, pivotedto the centre of said dial 2 and meant to provide the information on thecurrent hour; a second hand member 4, pivoted to the centre of said dial2 and meant to provide the information on the current minute.

Said dial 2 comprises a calendar 11, of traditional type, and agraduated circumferential path 12 having a plurality of indicatormembers 13 dividing it into a corresponding number of sections 14.

On the dial 2, a digital display 16 is also comprised, reporting indigits the hour expressed according to the traditional system.

The indicator members 13 represent different positions on said path 12and on the dial 2. In particular, an indicator member 13 in a medianposition represents the initial position of said path 12 and, the path12 being circumferential, also the final position thereof.

Each hand member and particularly the first hand member 3 comprises apointing end 15 that is movable with respect to said graduatedcircumferential path 12.

In the watch 1 according to the present invention, the run time of saidpointing end 15 with respect to the path 12 from the initial position tothe final position, i.e., for a whole revolution of the dial 2, is ofeight hours.

Thus, said path 12 comprises eight indicator members 13 and eightsections 14 identified by the former.

On the dial 2, the watch 1 further comprises identification means of an8-hour period corresponding to the completion of said path 12 by thepointing end 15.

Said identification means are capable of displaying three different timeconditions, corresponding respectively to the working time, indicatedwith the initial WT, going from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.; to the free timeperiod, indicated with the initial FT, going from 4.00 to midnight; andto the night time, indicated with the initial NT in FIG. 2, going frommidnight to 8.00 a.m.

In the present embodiment, said identification means comprise a window18, obtained on the dial 2, and a release member 19, movable below thedial, changing its state every eight hours, in correspondence with thepassing final—initial position, displaying the initial corresponding tothe current time period.

With reference to FIG. 3, a wrist-watch is globally indicated with 1 andcomprises a dial 2; a first hand member 3, pivoted to the centre of saiddial 2 and meant to provide the information on the current hour; asecond hand member 4, pivoted to the centre of said dial 2 and meant toprovide the information on the current minute.

Said dial 2 further comprises a calendar 11, of the traditional type; afirst subdial 5 provided with a third hand member 8 for therepresentation of the traditional time, or, alternatively, of thecurrent seconds; and a graduated circumferential path 12 having aplurality of indicator members 13 dividing it in a corresponding numberof sections 14.

The indicator members 13 represent different positions on said path 12and on the dial 2.

Each hand member, and in particular the first hand member 3, comprises apointing end 15 that is movable with respect to said graduatedcircumferential path 12.

In the watch 1 according to the present invention, the run time of saidpointing end 15 with respect to the path from the initial position tothe final position, i.e., for a whole revolution of the dial 2, is of 24hours.

In this connection, the path 12 comprises twenty-four indicator members13 and twenty-four corresponding sections 14 identified by the former.

Further, the dial 2 is divided into a first sector 20, a second sector21 and a third sector 22, corresponding respectively to saididentification means of an 8-hour period.

In fact, said sectors 20, 21, 22 are all equal to each other: with aview angle of 120°, and each of them delimits an 8-hour period, withnine indicator members 13 and eight sections 14 per sector, with initialand final positions that are distinct for each total path section,indicated with 23, 24, 25, respectively, corresponding to each sector20, 21, 22.

The division into sections in the present embodiment is graphicallyperformed, directly on the dial 2. The initial position of the workingtime period (WT) corresponds to the median position on the dial 2.

The final position of each sector corresponds to the initial position ofthe subsequent sector.

With reference to FIG. 4, a wrist-watch is globally indicated with 1 andcomprises a dial 2; and a hand member 3, pivoted sideways with respectto said dial 2 and meant to provide the information on the current hour.

Said dial 2 further comprises a calendar 11, of the traditional type,and a graduated path 12 having a plurality of indicator members 13subdividing it in a corresponding number of sections 14.

The watch 1 further comprises display means 17 of the current minutesrelated to the motion of said hand member 3.

The graduated path 12 extends over an open circle segment, substantiallyextending over 180°.

The indicator members 13 represent different positions on said path 12and on the dial 2. In particular, an end indicator member 13 arepresents the initial position of said path 12 and an end indicatormember 13 b represents the final position of said path 12.

Each hand member, and particularly the first hand member 3 comprises apointing end 15 that is movable with respect to said graduatedcircumferential path 12.

In the watch 1 according to the present invention, the run time of saidpointing end 15 is of eight hours with respect to the path 12 from theinitial position to the final position.

Thus, said path 12 comprises nine indicator members 13, 13 a, 13 b andeight sections 14 identified by the former.

The hand member 3 springs back to the initial position by means ofspringing back means 90 once the final position has been reached, asshown in FIG. 5.

On the dial 2, the watch 1 further comprises identification means of an8-hour period corresponding to the completion of said path 12 by thepointing end 15.

Said identification means are capable of displaying three different timeconditions, corresponding to the working time period, indicated with theacronym WT in FIG. 4, going from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 a.m.; to the freetime period, indicated with the initial FT, going from 4.00 p.m. tomidnight; and to the night time period, indicated with the initial NT,elapsing from midnight to 8.00 a.m., respectively.

In the present embodiment, said identification means comprise a window18, obtained on the dial 2, and a release member 19, movable below thedial, changing state every eight hours, in correspondence with thepassing final—initial—position, displaying the sign corresponding to thecurrent time period.

The parts of the watches of said embodiments that were not described canbe made in a conventional way.

Further, it should be noted that such watches, among the variouspossible variants, can comprise other subdials, reporting e.g., the hourof other time zones, the Moon phases and so on.

Then, the traditional hands can also be replaced by different handmembers, all however falling within the same protective scope.

Besides the aforecited advantages, this structural notion of a watchprovides a time representation well suited to the circadian rhythmsimposed by the modern lifestyles.

To the above-described watches, a man skilled in the art, in order tomeet further and contingent needs, will be able to carry out severalfurther modifications and variants, all however comprised within theprotective scope of the present invention, as defined by the annexedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wrist-watch comprising: a dial; at least a handmember having a movable pointing end; and a single path, with respect towhich said movable pointing end is moved, which is provided with aninitial position and a final position matching one with the other,wherein run time of said path from the initial position to the finalposition of said movable pointing end is of eight hours, said watchfurther comprising identification means of an 8-hour periodcorresponding to said path, said identification means displaying threedifferent temporal conditions.
 2. The wrist-watch according to claim 1,wherein said identification means comprises a window, obtained on thedial, and a release member, movable below the dial, changing its stateevery eight hours, in correspondence with the passing final—initialposition.
 3. The wrist-watch according to claim 1, comprising displaymeans of the traditional time.
 4. The wrist-watch according to claim 1,comprising a calendar in correspondence of said dial.
 5. The wrist-watchaccording to claim 1, wherein said path is graduated.
 6. The wrist-watchaccording to claim 1, wherein said path is substantiallycircumferential.
 7. The wrist-watch of claim 1, wherein said threedifferent temporal conditions are work time, free-time, and night time.8. The wrist-watch according to claim 1, wherein one displayed temporalcondition of said three different temporal conditions is changed toanother displayed temporal condition of said three different temporalconditions every eight hours.
 9. A wrist-watch comprising: a dial; atleast a hand member having a movable pointing end; and a single path,with respect to which said movable pointing end is moved, which isprovided with an initial position and a final position separated onefrom the other, wherein run time of said path from the initial positionto the final position of said movable pointing end is of eight hours,said watch comprising springing back means to make said pointing endspring back in the initial position once the final position has beenreached, wherein said watch further comprises identification means of an8-hour period corresponding to said path, said identification meansdisplaying three different temporal conditions.
 10. The wrist-watchaccording to claim 9, wherein said path extends over a circumferentialsegment.
 11. The wrist-watch according to claim 9, comprising displaymeans of the traditional time.
 12. The wrist-watch according to claim 9,comprising a calendar in correspondence of said dial.
 13. Thewrist-watch according to claim 9, wherein said path is graduated. 14.The wrist-watch according to claim 9, wherein said identification meanscomprise a window, obtained on the dial, and a release member, movablebelow the dial, changing its state every eight hours, in correspondencewith the passing final—initial position.
 15. The wrist-watch of claim 9,wherein said three different temporal conditions are work time,free-time, and night time.
 16. The wrist-watch according to claim 9,wherein one displayed temporal condition of said three differenttemporal conditions is changed to another displayed temporal conditionof said three different temporal conditions every eight hours.